These Tips Will Help You Stop Mould and Mildew Growing

Mould and mildew are those dark green and black stains that appear on your bathroom and kitchen walls. They are basically fungi that live on bits of dirt and scum in between tiles. In hot and humid places like Malaysia, they also tend to grow on your outer walls. While you can’t completely be free of mould and mildew, there are things you can do to make sure that you minimize their growth.

Mould and mildew can be a headache to clean. They can also cause your paint to peel. In bathrooms and kitchens, they often grow in the nooks and crannies that are difficult to reach. Here’s what you can do to arrest their growth:

1. Open More Windows

When taking a bath, it’s important to have a window or a vent open so that the moisture is able to dissipate outside rather than being stuck in the small space of your bathroom. That’s why it’s not advisable to close your toilet doors. The more air that flows through your bathroom or toilet, the drier it will be and that means less moisture in the air that will nourish these fungi.

2. Clean Your Tiles Regularly

At least once a week, give your bathroom, toilet and kitchen tiles a good scrub with soap and warm water. This removes any trace of scum, oil and any other particles that can nourish mould and mildew. In the kitchen, you should focus on the areas around your stove, as this is where most of the food particles and oils will land.

In your bathrooms. focus on your shower area which gets wet, as well as the floor around your toilet bowl. Use a scrubbing powder if necessary.

3. Install an Exhaust Fan and Vent

An exhaust vent over the stove will minimize the amount of oil and grease ending up on your walls and tiles. This keeps them cleaner. Exhaust fans and vents are also useful in your laundry area and bathroom too to keep the air moving. Stale air is the best way to encourage fungal growth so if you don’t have windows in your bathroom or kitchen, an exhaust fan is an absolute must.

4. Keep A Dehumidifier Around

Dehumidifiers come in various shapes and sizes. A simple one is merely a small container of activated charcoal or some other substance that can absorb moisture. Apart from that, there are also large ones that look like portable air conditioners. A large digital dehumidifier can be used to control the humidity in your rooms to a specific number or level.

5. Use an Air Purifier

Air purifiers have HEPA filters that can reduce the number of fungal spores in your home. Some air conditioners have HEPA filters built into them so you can look out for those too.

6. Use Fungal Resistant Paint

For the outer surfaces of your home, options to control mould are limited since these walls are exposed to the elements all the time. The one thing you can actually do is use paint with anti-fungal properties as these can withstand mould a lot longer than regular paint.

If you have mould and mildew already growing in your home, fret not. They can definitely be cleaned, especially by our expert cleaning service providers. They have the expertise and know-how to restore your walls and tiles to their original state.